Stanford (St. Mary)

STANFORD (St. Mary), a parish, in the union ot Martley, Upper division of the hundred of Doddingtree, Hundred-House and W. divisions of the county of Worcester, 12 miles (N. W.) from Worcester; containing 164 inhabitants. It is bounded on the east by the small river Teme, and comprises 1278a. 2r. 19p. of land, mostly pasture, with picturesque scenery, embellished with large oak timber. The substratum contains limestone, which is quarried for building and for the roads, and also burnt into lime. The Hall, built at Various times, contains a curious room with portraits of the time of Queen Elizabeth painted on the panels; in the park is a fine sheet of water, and the largest cedar-tree in the kingdom. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £7. 4. 2., and in the patronage of Sir T. E. Winnington, Bart.: the tithes have been commuted for £230, and the glebe comprises 68½ acres, with a parsonage, a fine stone structure, in a commanding situation and enjoying delightful prospects. The church, an elegant edifice in the pointed style, with a handsome tower, stands on an elevated site within the park, and forms an interesting feature in the landscape; it was erected about 70 years ago, is of stone, and contains some fine monuments, one of them to the Rt. Hon. Thomas Winnington. Here is a rock of singular formation, apparently a petrifaction, from which issues a spring of remarkably pure water.